Mitt Romney's Culture Problem

At last Mitt Romney and Palestinians have found something they can agree on. And when you reflect on that something, I think you'll see more clearly why Romney keeps
failing to get traction with American voters.

After going to Israel and offending Palestinians in the occupied territory by seeming to attribute their economic plight to "cultural" deficiencies, Romney decided to write a piece for National Review Online clarifying his point. And it
turns out that when he talks about a culture conducive to prosperity he's largely talking about a culture featuring freedom. "The linkage between freedom
and prosperity has a universal applicability," he writes.

I'm sure many Palestinians agree they could use more freedom, and that this would have economic benefits. West Bank Palestinians would like the freedom to
transport goods directly from one town to another without taking bizarrely circuitous routes dictated by the existence of webs of illegal Israeli
settlements -- and they'd like to be confident that, while they're en route, these roads won't suddenly be shut down by Israeli troops. Palestinian businesses
(and residences) would like the freedom to control natural resources, so they could have running water seven days a week, rather than see the water
siphoned off to fill swimming pools in those Israeli settlements.

And many West Bank Palestinians would like the freedom to vote for or against the Israeli governments that have imposed these and other
conditions on them. That would be a manifestation of freedom known as "democracy."

I realize Mitt Romney doesn't care what Palestinians think of him, since they have no real constituency in America. But what is alarming--and I mean
alarming from the point of view of Americans who might wind up being governed by this guy--is that he probably has no awareness of the stunning irony of
going to Jerusalem, having a lovefest with Bibi Netanyahu, defender-in-chief of the Israeli occupation, and then preaching to Palestinians that they'd be
better off if only they'd get themselves some freedom!

I mean, leave aside the left-right argument about whether Israeli or Palestinian leaders are more responsible for the failure to reach a two-state solution
back when that was still possible. Do you have any idea how offensive Romney sounds to the vast majority of Palestinians who definitely can't be
blamed for this failure to seize past moments?

I used to think the Democratic rap on Romney--that he's one of these rich people who just can't see the way life looks to less rich people--was just a
clever and not wholly implausible talking point. But I'm starting to take it much more seriously. I think his gaffes abroad do bespeak an inability to put
himself in the shoes of other people, whether Brits who are proud of their Olympic preparations or Palestinians who live under occupation.

I mean, gosh, why didn't those Palestinians have the wisdom to be born into a nice Mormon family--with nice Mormon culture--whose patriarch was head of
American Motors? And, come to think of it, why didn't all those unemployed Americans exhibit similar foresight?

Mitt's a pretty smart guy, but there's one thing he just can't seem to wrap his mind around: not being Mitt. For the millions of American voters who aren't
Mitt, that's something to think about.